Open Thread: The Latest On the Coaching Search
Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA Today
We’ll update this with Tom Coughlin/Eagles coaching search news throughout the day:
1:30 p.m. — Next up, Doug Pederson.
With Tom Coughlin out of the picture, the Eagles now are expected to pursue Chiefs OC Doug Pederson as their next head coach, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 14, 2016
The Eagles appeared to have him as a top candidate heading into this search, but moved on Ben McAdoo and Tom Coughlin after their interview with him, which is telling. 12:55 — Well, so much for that.
Tom Coughlin is withdrawing his name from consideration for Eagles HC job, per sources. Not the right fit. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 14, 2016
12:42 — On the former Eagles coach front:
49ers expected to choose between Chip Kelly and Mike Shanahan for their next HC, per league sources. Decision likely within next 24 hours. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 14, 2016
Tom Coughlin is apparently not among the finalists, meaning the Eagles probably don’t have to worry about having to compete for his services. 10:49 — The expectation is that Steve Spagnuolo will stay in New York as defensive coordinator with Ben McAdoo. But could those plans change if Tom Coughlin gets hired in Philly?
It would be interesting to see whether Coughlin-to-Eagles changes things with Giants/Spagnuolo. — Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) January 14, 2016
Meanwhile, Jeff McLane offers a thought on the potential OC:
If it’s Tom Coughlin, and I believe there are still major obstacles to clear, then retaining Shurmur as OC would make sense, re: Bradford. — Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) January 14, 2016
10:40 — Ian Rapoport with the latest on the Eagles and Coughlin:
#Eagles talks with Tom Coughlin have intensified, as well. This could all go down very quickly. He seems to have wrapped his head around it — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 14, 2016
There are “ongoing discussions” between Tom Coughlin and the #Eagles as we speak. Some questions to answer. But they are far down the line. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 14, 2016
My understanding is the #Eagles are set for a face-to-face meeting with Tom Coughlin today. Should be a lot more in-depth than last time. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 14, 2016
7:54 — With Ben McAdoo off the market the Eagles are now focused in on his former boss, Tom Coughlin, according to Adam Schefter.
Eagles now have turned their attention to former Giants HC Tom Coughlin, per sources. Yet, there are issues for two sides to work through. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 14, 2016
The Eagles were in on McAdoo per our reporting and various media outlets. The Giants, after catching wind of the Eagles’ interest, locked up McAdoo before the Eagles had a chance to.
Our sense on Wednesday night was that the Eagles could announce a hiring as early as today, and that the target was McAdoo. Further, the feel was that the interest in Doug Pederson, a top candidate heading into coaching search, had fallen off some in recent days. The fact that the Eagles were pursuing McAdoo — and now are reportedly setting their sights on Coughlin — would seem to support that notion.
We’ll see if the Eagles and Coughlin can work through whatever issues there are and hammer out a deal. The group of Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman and Don Smolenski had halted the search as of a a couple days ago after interviewing Adam Gase (Miami), McAdoo (Giants), Coughlin, Pederson and in-house candidates Pat Shurmur and Duce Staley.